Butterfly bush no flowers (growing, Hydrangea, hydrangeas, weeds)
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Early this spring I pruned my butterfly bushes way back. Now I have no blooms this summer. I assume I pruned at the wrong time or maybe I should have not pruned at all. Anyone know what I did wrong?
There are a couple of different varieties and one grows on previous growth which you most probably cut off. It should be ok next year, those normally are pruned in the mid to late summer.
At my former home I had three beautifully large and gorgeous B bushes, I have since moved so I don't know of their current state. I never pruned them so I can't say if you should/shouldn't or the outcomes but I found this, hope it helps!
As soon as I am able to...I will be encircling my property with beautiful, luscious, sweet smelling butterfly bushes, they are remarkable and fascinating. I never had butterflies AND the huge variety of them...plus the many hummingbirds as well while living in the Chicago metro area. Can't wait!
Since they bloom on new wood, even if there is no die-back, cut them back to the ground every spring. Even where winters are mild enough for the stems to survive, prune severely to stimulate abundant growth on which flowers are borne.
Regarding your butterfly bush (Buddlia), you are safe to prune it at either time as long as it is late winter moving into early spring. As a matter of fact you can prune them any time of the year except early winter.
And while it has been said that improper pruning practices result in weakened or damaged plants, this is not the case with the ever-popular butterfly bush.
At my former home I had three beautifully large and gorgeous B bushes, I have since moved so I don't know of their current state. I never pruned them so I can't say if you should/shouldn't or the outcomes but I found this, hope it helps!
As soon as I am able to...I will be encircling my property with beautiful, luscious, sweet smelling butterfly bushes, they are remarkable and fascinating. I never had butterflies AND the huge variety of them...plus the many hummingbirds as well while living in the Chicago metro area. Can't wait!
Since they bloom on new wood, even if there is no die-back, cut them back to the ground every spring. Even where winters are mild enough for the stems to survive, prune severely to stimulate abundant growth on which flowers are borne.******
Regarding your butterfly bush (Buddlia), you are safe to prune it at either time as long as it is late winter moving into early spring. As a matter of fact you can prune them any time of the year except early winter.
And while it has been said that improper pruning practices result in weakened or damaged plants, this is not the case with the ever-popular butterfly bush.
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That is only true for the new growth variety, I had both and one would bloom on new growth and the other on old. True you can cut both back BUT it must be done in the proper cycle. They are like hydrangeas some are new and some are old growth. The BB that is on old growth has paired leaves and the other alternating.
I must have the variety that grow on old growth since I pruned to the ground and have no flowers at all but very good new growth. I'll see what happens next summer.
I too get lots of butterflies and my first hummingbird last year.
FWIW, here in Colorado my butterfly bushes (which die back to the ground every winter here in zone 4) have not bloomed yet -- looks like one of them is getting ready to, though. Here they bloom late summer to fall. You might just be giving up on yours too early.
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That is only true for the new growth variety, I had both and one would bloom on new growth and the other on old. True you can cut both back BUT it must be done in the proper cycle. They are like hydrangeas some are new and some are old growth. The BB that is on old growth has paired leaves and the other alternating.
Yeah...no, those aren't my views or words as I never pruned my bushes so I couldn't and didn't say what would/could work. Just googled and found those sites to be interesting.
FWIW, here in Colorado my butterfly bushes (which die back to the ground every winter here in zone 4) have not bloomed yet -- looks like one of them is getting ready to, though. Here they bloom late summer to fall. You might just be giving up on yours too early.
Going along with the both Colorado comments, showing you how the same plant can be different in other areas. Things like morning glory, rose of Sharon, mimosa and even butterfly bush, to name a few, can and are considered weeds in different areas.
Going along with the both Colorado comments, showing you how the same plant can be different in other areas. Things like morning glory, rose of Sharon, mimosa and even butterfly bush, to name a few, can and are considered weeds in different areas.
Eeek. You are absolutely right. In Washington it is a class b noxious weed and apparently a big problem. I had no idea. It can be quite invasive. I never suspected. Apparently it is super hard to kill. So it looks like I planted 3 giant weeds in my garden LOL.
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